A meteorite that survived atmospheric entry and smashed through the roof of a Georgia home earlier this year may have formed before Earth itself, according to a scientist from the University of Georgia who analyzed fragments of the wandering solar system object.

Residents of several southeastern U.S. states were dazzled on Jul. 26 when they witnessed a rare daytime fireball — bright enough to be registered by an orbiting satellite — blazing Earthward.

The ancient asteroid shard at the heart of the event weathered the intense friction of atmospheric entry to punch a hole through the roof of a house in the city of McDonough, Georgia, shattering the floor a mere 14 feet (4 meters) from an unsuspecting resident.

How old is the McDonough Meteorite?

23-grams-worth of the fragmented meteorite

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